Prime Time Palm Beach County Inc.

The State of Afterschool Palm Beach County 

2007 Executive Summary

 Prime Time’s 2007 Afterschool Survey Questionnaire was distributed to elementary and middle school students of the School District of Palm Beach County during the third week of September 2007.  Students were asked to give the questionnaire to their parent or guardian.  Completed questionnaires were returned to the schools by September 28, 2007.  A total of 5,234 questionnaires were returned and tallied. [1]

The purpose of the 2007 Afterschool Survey Questionnaire is to capture a snapshot of parental attitudes, opinions and information related to their experiences with afterschool programs in Palm Beach County. 

Over 77% of respondents had children enrolled in afterschool programs at their schools (39.9%), in the care of parent or another adult after school (29.2%) or attending a community afterschool program.  Results suggest some widely held values about afterschool programs:

• Almost 60% of the respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the idea that afterschool care was not needed. (59.7%)

• Overwhelmingly parents believe afterschool programs keep their kids safe (73.6%)
• More than 60% of respondents find the hours of afterschool operation to work for them … suggesting that these programs support the needs of working parents.
• Respondents clearly value the opportunities available through afterschool for their child to be physically active (68.6%).

• Respondents have very low negative comments about their child’s afterschool programs.

The findings seem to suggest that a substantial number of parents need more information about afterschool quality.  For example, fewer that 5% of respondents express the belief that afterschool staffs are not well-trained but almost 44% express an inability to make a judgment on this issue.  Respondents were unable to definitively answer questions about such activities as:

• completing homework assignments (34.3% neutral/no opinion)

• helping their child get better grades (50.8% neutral/no opinion)

• rating the quality of an afterschool program (37.7% neutral/no opinion)

Questions addressing the cost of afterschool also deserve mention.  Respondents seem slightly unsure about the affordability of afterschool programs in general (32.5% neutral/no opinion).  Interestingly, they are equally divided on the issue of costs imposing limits on their child’s participation with the largest number (24.5%) swinging to the neutral/no opinion column. 

It is perhaps not overly surprising that the bulk of the respondents are parents/guardians of children in kindergarten through Grade 5, ages 5 to 11.  The middle school response numbers are noticeably lower than those of elementary schools.  However, given the increases in juvenile crime rates and gang activity, it is important to bring older youths into programs.  Prime Time believes the key to attracting and keeping older youths in afterschool is by having high quality and engaging programs.

It is Prime Time’s conclusion that the collective body of responses overwhelming shows that parents endorse afterschool programming for their children.  Afterschool programs are characterized as a positive, structured and safe environment that meets the needs of their child and the parent/guardian after the school day ends.  They understand afterschool is a place their child can find quality programs and opportunities for new and exciting experiences.